By Guy Page

Jody Fewer first realized her son Seth was interested in Turning Point USA when a package arrived on her front porch about a year ago, before founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated in August. “It was a big cardboard box that said, ‘Socialism Sucks,” she recalled Friday night at the first gathering of Vermont’s first high school TPUSA Club. “‘What’s this all about? I wondered.”

So began Seth Fewer’s determined, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort to open a Turning Point USA chapter at Barre’s Spaulding High School. He and best friend and club co-founder Javion Kastner approached 10 teachers as club sponsors – a TPUSA requirement. They all said no. 

Undeterred, the two freshmen worked with TPUSA to start a club outside of the high school. It met for the first time Friday night in Barre at the Canadian Club – or as Seth calls it, “the 51st State Club.”

Fewer spoke about their work to date, and about the group’s mission, and then concluded his opening remarks by quoting Paul’s admonition to young leader Timothy: “”Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12). 

About 100 people attended. The crowd was a smattering of friends, family, TPUSA staff and volunteers from upstate New York and New England, supporters from Washington County and beyond. One supporter was Barre City Councilor Michael Deering, who said TPUSA in Vermont will take a stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ (see video below). 

VDC asked Deering what he thinks about a couple of freshmen persisting amid lack of interest among teachers and vociferous criticism on social media.

“God works in mysterious ways,” Deering said.

The news media showed up, too. Vermont Public and VTDigger both sent reporters. Hank Poitras of Planet Hank spoke. VDC covered the event (see videos), and freelancer and former VDC reporter Mike Bielawski showed up just as VDC was leaving and promised to write a story on the event. 

Non-attendees included the protesters who, on social media, said they would be present. The heavy snowfall and the presence of a Washington County Sheriff, plus a muscled TPUSA person at the door, might have discouraged any activity, had they shown up to the private venue. 

The event opened with a brief documentary depicting TPUSA as a Christian movement fighting for truth and liberty against truth and liberty’s enemies (including a silhouette of Bernie Sanders). Then Fewer and Kastner and TPUSA youth and staff from outside Vermont took the stage, speaking to an appreciative audience. 

Riley Gaines and Erika Kirk to come to Vermont?

In an interview given to VDC before the meeting began (see video above), Fewer and Kastner were asked what’s next for the TPUSA chapter. Fewer said the chapter now can draw on the resources of the national organization, including its high-profile, popular speakers. Former Olympic swimmer and girls’ rights advocate Riley Gaines could make an appearance. So could – hey why not – Erika Kirk, widow of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk and now the organization’s leader and chief spokesperson. 

Seth Fewer (left) and Javion Kastner. All photos by Guy Page, VDC